Man arrested for DUI after following woman to work in Auburn

AUBURN — A Wayland man, allegedly under the influence of alcohol and drugs, was arrested after police said he followed a woman to work.

Richard J. Cornell, 27, was charged with driving a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol (second offense), driving under the influence of drugs, drinking alcohol from an open container in a motor vehicle, negligent driving, driving too closely, and three counts of possession of a Class B substance.

Police received a frantic call Saturday morning from a woman who said someone followed her to the Auburn Life Care Center, 14 Masonic Circle, which is her place of work.

The woman told police that she was on her way to work when Mr. Cornell, for no apparent reason, stopped his vehicle in the middle of the road on Washington Street (Route 20) near Elm Street, according to police.

After waiting a few moments, the woman hit her horn but Mr. Cornell refused to move his vehicle. After she drove around Mr. Cornell, he began following her at a very close distance while flashing the vehicle's lights and hitting the horn, according to police.

The vehicle followed the frightened woman for more than two miles. She did not know Mr. Cornell, according to police.

When police arrived, Mr. Cornell was parked two spaces away. In his car was a large baggie of various pills, bags of marijuana and an open alcoholic beverage, according to police.

Mr. Cornell was held on $1,500 bail pending his arraignment Tuesday in Worcester District Court. Bryan Porcaro was the arresting officer.